With deluxe string/harp arrangements, some ingenious song choices including Marvin Gaye’s trippy ‘Purple Snowflakes’, the Sammy Cahn/Jule Styne-penned ‘Christmas Waltz’ (which they were requested to write by Frank Sinatra), plus a song made famous by Stevie Wonder, ‘Someday At Christmas’, in which Wonder yearns for a Christmas when "Men won't be boys/playing with bombs like kids play with toys" – plus ça change in the affairs of humankind over 50 years after its release as a single – Gregory Porter’s Christmas Wish is a corker.

Recorded between New York City and London, produced by long-time collaborator Troy Miller, and accompanied by his regular band, the album is elevated to greatness by a trio of Porter originals.

The powerful ‘Everything’s Not Lost’ sees Porter imploring the listener to remember the less fortunate, with a dramatic textural drop-out at its close leaving just the strings playing icy harmonics. Opening with the unaccompanied strains of Ondre Pivec’s Hammond organ, his gospel-infused title track is a touching paean to his mother (“If I had one wish, one gift to give that day, it would be to kiss my mama on Christmas Day”). Best of all is the seasoned, unhurried pocket of the third Porter composition, ‘Heart For Christmas’.

Other highlights include a sumptuous duet with Samara Joy on Frank Loesser’s ‘What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?’ plus the wondrous harp glissandos of ‘Cradle In Bethlehem’, recorded by one of Porter’s touchstones, Nat King Cole, on his classic 1960 album, The Magic of Christmas.